Best Litter Box for Kittens: What to Look For + 3 Picks

Last Updated on October 8, 2026 by admin

The best litter box for a kitten is a plain, open-top box with low sides the kitten can step over easily, big enough to turn around and dig in. Fill it with 1 to 2 inches of unscented, fine-textured litter, put it somewhere quiet, and scoop it daily. Skip hoods, liners and automatic boxes until your kitten is reliably using the box.

What makes a good litter box for kittens

Kittens have short legs and are still learning, so the main job of the box is to be easy to get into and impossible to miss. The ASPCA notes that cats who are “still very young” can have trouble with high sides or top-entry boxes, and recommends switching to a box with low sides if a cat struggles.

• Low entry. A kitten should be able to walk in without jumping. Many standard open pans have one lowered front edge.
• Room to turn and dig. Shelters such as Humane World for Animals advise a box large enough for the cat to turn around comfortably. A box that is too small for a kitten today will be far too small in a few months, so choose one you can keep or plan to upsize.
• Open top. Most cats don’t like lids or liners, according to the ASPCA. An open box also lets you see what is happening and makes daily scooping easier.
• Smooth, easy-clean plastic. Rounded corners and a smooth finish stop clumps sticking.
• Cheap enough to buy more than one. The usual rule is one box per cat plus one extra.

Open or covered litter box for a kitten?

Start with an open box. A cover can trap odor inside, makes the box darker and harder to enter, and hides messes you would otherwise clean. VCA Animal Hospitals also points out that covered pans can let other pets ambush a cat as it exits, which matters in a home with an older cat or dog. If you want a covered box later, introduce it once your kitten is fully trained and watch whether they keep using it. Our comparison of covered vs uncovered litter boxes goes into more detail.

Best litter box picks for kittens

These are simple, widely available open boxes with low entries. Prices are the makers’ listed prices when checked in October 2026 and change often.

Petmate Basic Litter Box

A no-frills open pan sold from small to jumbo. A small or medium box is easy for a young kitten to climb into; buy a jumbo once your cat is grown. At this price you can put one on every floor.

Arm & Hammer SimplyRecycled Wave Litter Box

Sold through Petmate, this is a low, open box made from post-industrial recycled plastic, with a wide rim that makes it easy to lift and empty. The small size works for a new kitten.

IRIS USA Large Open Top Cat Litter Tray

If you would rather buy one box and keep it, this tray has a low entry for kittens but a floor big enough for an adult cat. The low walls mean more litter gets kicked out, so a litter mat helps.

A clean, shallow storage tub with one side cut down also works and is what the ASPCA suggests for cats who like a large box.

What is the best litter to start kittens on?

The ASPCA says cats generally prefer unscented clumping litter with a medium to fine texture, and that a cat may prefer the type of litter it used as a kitten. That makes the litter you start with worth getting right.

• Unscented. Many cats dislike strong perfumes and deodorizers in litter, according to VCA.
• Fine texture. Sand-like litter is closest to what cats dig in naturally.
• Shallow. Use 1 to 2 inches, not 3 to 4.
• Same litter the breeder or shelter used, at least at first. Change gradually if you need to switch.

Kittens sometimes taste litter while they are learning. If yours keeps eating it, switch to a non-clumping or plant-based litter for now and mention it to your vet.

Where to put a kitten’s litter box

• Somewhere quiet and easy to reach, away from loud appliances and busy hallways.
• Away from food and water bowls.
• In the room where the kitten spends most of its time at first, then add boxes elsewhere as it explores.
• At least one box per floor in a multi-level home.

For how many boxes you need as your household grows, see how many litter boxes per cat. For the rest of your shopping list, see our new kitten supplies checklist.

Litter box training tips for kittens

1. Show your kitten the box as soon as you get home, and place them in it after meals, naps and play.
2. Scoop at least once a day. Cats avoid dirty boxes.
3. Wash the box weekly with warm water and unscented soap, then refill with fresh litter.
4. Never punish accidents. Clean them with an enzyme cleaner so the smell doesn’t draw the kitten back.
5. Keep the same litter and box location while your kitten is learning.

Our guide on when kittens learn to use the litter box covers the timeline, and what to do if a cat won’t use a new litter box helps if training stalls.

When to call your vet

Call your vet if your kitten strains in the box, cries while going, has diarrhea for more than a day, has blood in urine or stool, or suddenly stops using a box it was using well. Litter box changes are often the first sign of a medical problem, not a training one.

FAQ

Do kittens need a different litter box?

Not a special one, just a box with low sides and enough room to turn. A standard small or medium open pan works. Upsize as the kitten grows; adult cats generally prefer large boxes.

Do kittens prefer open or closed litter boxes?

Preferences vary, but an open box is the safer start. It is easier to enter and keeps odor from building up inside a hood.

What size litter box does a kitten need?

Big enough to turn around and dig, with an entry low enough to step over. A box your kitten can grow into is fine as long as the sides stay low.

Can kittens use a self-cleaning litter box?

Wait until your kitten is fully trained and fully grown. The ASPCA suggests switching back to a traditional box if a cat starts going outside a self-cleaning one.